Trial (4)
“I never imagined I’d meet you like this…”
Ariel, the princess who had come to visit, slowly and cautiously took a seat across from me, her expression somewhat awkward. The same place as half a year ago, but under completely different circumstances. Facing me not as an enemy but as a visitor seemed difficult for her to adjust to.
Of course, I felt the same. But even more than that, I couldn’t fully focus on our face-to-face because of something else.
Sigh… this anger just won’t die down, will it?
As always, the rage boiling deep inside me was getting in the way. It had been months now. Every time I faced the princess, controlling my body was exhausting in every way.
If only it were as straightforward as with my little brother.
It would have been great if I could resolve it as cleanly and simply as with Veil. But I couldn’t pinpoint the root of this grudge and hatred, so I had no way to fix it.
For now, I set aside that worry and decided to ask the reason for her visit. Five minutes had passed since we met, and she was still hesitating, unable to speak.
“What brings you here?”
“I was just… curious how you were doing.”
I stared at her silently. That much, at least, was definitely not the real reason.
“Whatever else, that’s not the main one.”
“…Haa.”
Had I hit the nail on the head? Ariel let out a long sigh.
“I am curious. You know what it means for Tianis to hold a public trial.”
“Yes.”
As she continued, Tianis Academy was always kind to its students. It never did anything to hinder their growth or future. Even if they committed wrongs, it handled discipline quietly and ended it there. So, something like a trial—exposing everything publicly—was almost unheard of.
“Especially when the defendant is you, who went through one just half a year ago…”
The princess trailed off and met my eyes.
“So, has your curiosity been satisfied?”
“Yes. The shock is less than I expected.”
“Like you said, it’s my second trial.”
Her face took on a complicated expression at my words. I pressed on.
“More importantly, whose request brought you here? Rana’s?”
“No. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen Rana either. The ones who came to ask me were… Evan and Veil.”
I hadn’t expected Evan and Veil to go to the princess instead of Rana. Where the hell was Rana, anyway?
“I didn’t think those two would seek you out.”
“Me neither. I was surprised. They came to me and persuaded me so earnestly. If you’d seen them running around like that, you would’ve been shocked.”
“Not particularly interested in seeing that.”
What was so great about watching guys scamper about? Better to gaze at the sky.
After that, I stayed quiet. Honestly, dealing with the princess still felt uncomfortable. Every time we met, my body acted up like this—how could I welcome her? Even if she was the protagonist, the day I could face her properly would come only after these feelings faded.
“……”
“……”
The awkward silence lingered. Knowing I wouldn’t speak first, Ariel slowly parted her lips.
“I’ll… help you.”
She flinched at her own words, as if surprised they’d come out broken. Whatever. I didn’t react. Or rather, I couldn’t find words.
“I know it might sound strange. After all, I was the one who punished you. For two juniors to suddenly show up and say this might seem suspicious. But you’ve changed.”
The princess swallowed once. Uncharacteristically tense, her voice trembled as she continued.
“I can tell just from your eyes. They’re bright, without that shadow they used to have—something the old you never possessed.”
Ariel stared into my eyes as if peering behind them.
“What about the people around you? Rana, Evan, Veil, Cloi. They all like and rely on you. Even beyond those four, so many students trust you.”
Her gaze conveyed that she included herself in that trust.
“Not everyone, of course. But it’s true that many have forgiven you based on your actions and demeanor since then.”
Her eyes shone clearly.
“I acknowledge it too. Kyle, you’re no longer that past thug. You’re just an ordinary Tianis student now.”
Her voice held no trace of disgust, proving her words.
“So, to ensure the you who’s loved by others doesn’t suffer anymore. As a friend of Arden and the fourth princess of the Tiran Empire, I, Ariel Tianis, will help you.”
She meant she’d step forward publicly to aid someone who’d once been her enemy. Her resolve shone through, even if it meant facing criticism herself.
Yes, if the princess helped, victory in this trial was all but assured. She had that much influence—the same Ariel who’d once cast me into the abyss.
But my body, consumed by rage, only regarded her with cold, sunken eyes. How hypocritical that offer to help felt. She knew nothing. She’d never trusted me once. Even her vaunted abilities hadn’t detected it.
The repulsive sight of her pretending to care made me want to retch. Even her gaze irritated me.
“Words like that…”
The hatred and grudge filling my body slipped out through lips I could no longer control.
“…should’ve come a little sooner.”
My voice carried a gloomy undertone. Seizing the momentary weakness in my emotions, I quickly regained control.
“……”
The princess stared at me blankly. To salvage the situation, I bowed my head.
“That was a slip. Please pretend you didn’t hear it.”
Even my belated excuse didn’t improve her state. With no choice, I decided to leave first.
“If we’re done, I’ll go. And… I won’t refuse your help. Farewell.”
I gave a brief nod and exited the visiting room.
On the way back to my room.
“Damn this wretched body.”
Today, more than ever, I resented the memories dwelling within it. Even after distancing myself from the princess, an inexplicable lingering regret remained in my heart.
For a moment, I’d forcibly synced with Kyle Arden’s emotions, and it felt utterly repulsive and filthy. I needed to find a solution fast…
“Haa…”
A sigh escaped my frustrated heart. In the end, that day I couldn’t focus on anything else and just lay there, letting time pass.
In the room after Kyle Arden left.
“……”
Ariel still wore a dazed expression. Ten minutes, twenty… time in the visiting room dragged on endlessly.
Yet she couldn’t pull herself together, slowly shifting her gaze toward the direction Kyle had gone. Another ten minutes passed before she finally spoke.
“Why… are you on the verge of tears? Why on earth…”
The princess knew the look Kyle always gave her. It was obvious. No matter how much time passed, the emotions piled between them wouldn’t easily dissipate.
Still, Ariel hadn’t shown it. Because she knew he was holding back. She’d seen him effortfully suppress his anger born of hatred and resentment many times, so she stayed silent. That was proof he’d changed.
Today was no different. As always, despite hating her, he’d treated her normally.
So why today, of all days… had he shown a different emotion?
Ariel vividly recalled his expression from moments ago. Eyes brimming with moisture, a voice steeped in sorrow. The way he barely held back the sadness surging from within and forced out his words—it shocked her.
And rightly so. The Kyle she knew was distant from sadness. She’d witnessed it countless times: his heart, filled only with darkness, held no such emotion.
He’d never shed a tear, even in desperately hopeless situations.
So what had made him sad this time? Ariel sank into deep thought, her eyes still vacant. But no matter how much time passed, she reached no conclusion.
All she could grasp was that his emotions had shifted the moment she offered to help.
“But that…”
That didn’t make sense. If it were true, then he…
“No. That can’t be.”
Ariel shook her head, trying to banish the fleeting thought. Even as a hypothesis, it was absurd.
Yet the shock lingered. Sitting blankly in the visiting room, staring at the ceiling.
“Haa…”
She could only let out an inexplicable sigh.
Time flowed on, and soon the day of the trial arrived.
As usual, I woke early in the morning, ate breakfast around seven, and donned the newly provided uniform while waiting.
The trial was at one in the afternoon. I had to move to the courtroom beforehand—this was preparation for that.
About ten minutes later, an academy staff member and guards came to escort me.
Tianis Academy was still an educational institution, after all. They didn’t treat me like an outside criminal with handcuffs or ropes; they handled the escort without force.
Of course, it wasn’t pure consideration. It would’ve been nice to move discreetly, but they paraded me openly.
And with morning classes starting, many people witnessed the scene. Whatever—I shrugged it off.
We arrived at the waiting room. I’d stay here until the trial began.
“About four hours left, huh.”
Checking my wristwatch, that’s how much time remained. Nothing to do, and there was space to lie down. I stretched out to kill time.
I wasn’t one for much sleep anyway, and I didn’t love naps, but when there was truly nothing else, this was ideal.
Someone might ask if I wasn’t worried about the upcoming trial.
“A trial’s no big deal.”
Most people would fear the word at first, but after experiencing this sort of thing multiple times, it was surprisingly mundane. Hunting monsters was harder, honestly.
“Yawn~.”
Sleepiness washed over me quickly. I let out a yawn and closed my eyes.
And four hours later.
“Knight Department second-year Kyle Arden. We shall now commence the trial regarding your charges of student assault and collusion with a black mage.”
The trial had finally begun.